locking
noun · verb
Form of lock , present participle of lock.
Simple meaning
The use of a lock or a mutex to restrict access to a part of the code to at most one process.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
lahkingSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈlɑkɪŋ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
computing
The use of a lock or a mutex to restrict access to a part of the code to at most one process.
verb
present participle of lock
To become fastened in place.
“If you put the brakes on too hard, the wheels will lock.”
To be capable of becoming fastened in place.
To seize (e.g. the sword arm of an antagonist) by turning the left arm around it, to disarm him.
To intertwine or dovetail.
present participle of lock
To fasten with a lock.
To furnish (a canal) with locks.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Word family
Words built from the same root.
A storage compartment for clothes and valuables.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Pliers that can be locked in place.
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
Secure by locking.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Keep learning “locking” by choosing the kind of practice you need next.
- Practice sentence writingWrite sentences with vocabulary and get instant feedback.
- Practice in contextAnswer short vocabulary questions drawn from real situations.
- Review vocabularyTest your recall and strengthen words over time.
- Practice typingType vocabulary from meanings, examples and other prompts.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API (CC BY-SA 3.0). Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.